Gaza Herald – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has rejected a proposal from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to participate in military operations against the Houthis in Yemen, according to reports from Israeli media. The refusal underscores Riyadh’s cautious stance amid escalating regional tensions and complex diplomatic maneuvering involving multiple global powers.
A diplomatic source informed Haaretz that Netanyahu sought to collaborate with Saudi Arabia through United States mediation. The Israeli leader reportedly viewed this cooperation as a strategic avenue to strengthen bilateral ties with the kingdom while targeting an Iran-linked group operating in Yemen.
Mohammed bin Salman opposed the initiative primarily due to fears of negative repercussions among the Saudi public. This decision marks a significant shift from earlier aspirations of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which had gained momentum following similar agreements by the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020.
However, the onset of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023 severely damaged those diplomatic prospects. Haaretz noted that Israel perceived the renewed hostilities between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government in Yemen as an opportunity to revive relations, potentially driven by a desire to confront a group supported by its regional rival, Iran.
In response to the intensifying violence, Iran has urged Saudi Arabia to eschew military solutions in favor of political dialogue. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi extended this offer during a telephone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on Sunday.
“Insisting on a military approach and disregarding a political solution would only further complicate the situation,” Araghchi stated. He emphasized that regional crises cannot be resolved militarily and reiterated Tehran’s readiness to facilitate negotiations between Riyadh and Yemen to achieve a settlement.
Tensions escalated significantly on Saturday when an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resulted in casualties. According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, the strike killed 12 people and injured 309 others. The death toll later rose to 13 after an Indian national succumbed to injuries, Reuters reported.
Netanyahu condemned the incident on social media platform X, expressing strongest possible disapproval of the attack. He offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished for the full recovery of the injured, speaking on behalf of the Israeli people.
Meanwhile, the Houthis claimed responsibility for downing a Saudi Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance drone in northern Yemen’s Saada province. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the aircraft was conducting hostile missions when it was targeted by their forces.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
